Katse Dam Festival 2026: Where culture meets opportunity

Refiloe Molise

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is one of Africa’s most ambitious binational initiatives, a large-scale water transfer and hydropower scheme established through a treaty signed in 1986 between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa.

Conceived to address South Africa’s growing water demands in its industrial and urban heartland, particularly the Gauteng region around Johannesburg, the project harnesses the abundant water resources from Lesotho’s highlands, often called the “Water Tower of Southern Africa,” by diverting water from the Senqu/Orange River catchment through a network of dams, reservoirs, and tunnels.

The project is implemented in phases. Phase I, which began construction in the early 1990s and was largely completed by the early 2000s, included the iconic Katse Dam, completed in 1997/1998, the Mohale Dam, transfer tunnels, and the Muela Hydropower Station.

Katse Dam, standing 185 meters tall and once the highest in Africa, created a vast reservoir in the Malibamatso River valley, enabling reliable water exports to South Africa while generating hydroelectric power for Lesotho.

The LHWP has provided Lesotho with royalties from water sales, surplus electricity, improved infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, and broader development benefits, though it has also faced criticisms over social and environmental impacts, including displacement of communities and unresolved compensation issues for some affected residents.

The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), the Lesotho-based implementing agency for the project, oversees not only the core water and power components but also complementary social, environmental, and economic programs. These include resettlement support, community development initiatives, and efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods in project-affected areas.

As the LHWP marks its 40th anniversary in 2026, 40 years since the treaty’s signing, the focus extends beyond engineering milestones to celebrating long-term community empowerment and economic diversification.

In this context, communities surrounding Katse Dam in the Thaba-Tseka district stand to benefit from enhanced livelihood opportunities through tourism. The Katse Tourism Festival, scheduled for February 27–28, 2026, at Katse Dam, has become a key platform for this shift.

Organised by the community-led Katse Dam Action and Aid Community Forum and supported by the LHDA, the event has grown steadily since its inception in 2021, with earlier editions held around March to align with cultural commemorations like Moshoeshoe’s Day, honouring the founder of the Basotho nation.

What began as a modest cultural gathering has evolved into a vibrant annual celebration that draws both domestic and international visitors to the stunning highland scenery, at over 2,000 meters above sea level.

The festival spotlights Basotho heritage through traditional music, dance competitions, featuring styles like mokhibo and mohobelo, local cuisine exhibitions, handicrafts, sporting activities, community performances, and entertainment by local and international artists. Attendees experience authentic Basotho hospitality, traditional attire, and the dramatic landscapes of Lesotho’s mountains and the dam itself.

LHDA Chief Executive Tente Tente has emphasised that the project transcends mere infrastructure:

“The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is not only about water transfer and hydropower generation, but also fundamentally about improving lives.” Tente highlighted how community-driven tourism fosters income generation, preserves cultural identity, promotes enterprise development, encourages youth participation, and instills pride in local heritage.

The festival aligns with LHDA’s long-term strategy to diversify livelihoods in project areas, moving communities from reliance on traditional agriculture or limited opportunities toward sustainable options like tourism.

Seliane Rakuoane, Chairperson of the Katse Dam Action and Aid Community Forum, underscored the event’s direct economic impact on residents near the dam. Local households and entrepreneurs earn income by selling food, handicrafts, and souvenirs; offering accommodation, such as homestays; providing transport services; and guiding tours around the highlands and cultural sites.

The festival serves as a marketplace for small businesses and a stage for young talents to reach wider audiences.

Beyond commerce, the event fulfills a social purpose. Proceeds from past editions have funded welfare efforts, including medical supplies for children with chronic illnesses and sanitary products for vulnerable groups, showing how tourism can translate into tangible community support.

As visitors flock to the 2026 edition, they will not only enjoy the festivities but also gain a deeper appreciation for Lesotho’s natural beauty, resilient communities, and cultural richness.

In turn, residents are motivated to safeguard their traditions, knowing they carry real economic value. The Katse Tourism Festival thus exemplifies how a major infrastructure project can evolve into a catalyst for inclusive, sustainable development in the highlands.

Newsday

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